Anaga massif
A primary laurel forest, wet and moss-covered, on the north-eastern ridges.
Duration
4 hrs – 7 hrs
Difficulty
●●●○○
Best time
In the morning
Open
Every day
Entry price
Free
The Anaga massif occupies the north-eastern tip of Tenerife and is the oldest part of the island, formed about eight million years ago. Erosion has cut it into narrow ridges and deep ravines.
The laurisilva covering it is a relic: this laurel forest covered the Mediterranean basin before the glaciations, and it survived only in the Macaronesian islands. The trade winds lay a permanent mist over it, horizontal rain, and the trees are furred with moss and lichen. UNESCO made it a biosphere reserve in 2015.
Getting there
Thirty minutes' drive from Santa Cruz on the TF-12. The Cruz del Carmen visitor centre is the trailhead hub.
What to bring
- Walking shoes
- Windbreaker
- Swimsuit
Rules on site
The mist is permanent and visibility drops to a few metres: stay on the waymarked trails. The roads are very narrow and winding, and the paths are muddy all year.
